Spectropop - Digest Number 686

From:Spectropop Group

Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002

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______________ S P E C T R O P O P ______________
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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 18 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. The Blossoms........no, not that group!
From: Mick Patrick
2. Re: Joey Levine & The Archies
From: Allan Rinde
3. Re: Mina
From: Vincent Degiorgio
4. Ring a Ding / Trad Dad
From: Bill Reed
5. Shangri-La's, Hazlewood, Craig Douglas
From: Country Paul
6. Re: The Rock Flowers
From: Simon White
7. Re: Shangri-Las CDs
From: Billy G. Spradlin
8. Re: Girl Group Acetates / Toni Wine
From: Mick Patrick
9. Re: Allan Rinde + Toni Wine
From: Artie Wayne
10. Where Does A Rock & Roll Singer Go
From: Allan Rinde
11. Bobby Russell
From: Eddy Smit
12. Yank, Yank, Yankee!
From: Steve Harvey
13. Toni Wine, Chiffons, Ronnie Spector
From: Allan Rinde
14. re: Yank, Yank, Yankee!
From: Mike Edwards
15. Re: Shangri-Las CDs
From: Billy G Spradlin
16. Re: Bobby Russell
From: Jeff Lemlich
17. Re: Bobby Russell
From: Dan Hughes
18. Toni Wine & Carla Thomas
From: Mick Patrick
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 10:33:58 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: The Blossoms........no, not that group!
We all know and love THE BLOSSOMS, right? Well, allow me to
quote a few words written by my pal Andrew Rix in a recent CD
booklet:
In 1958, a quartet of girls christened themselves the Tropicals
and began to perform in local Washington DC clubs. Their
repertoire consisted of many of the hits songs of the day and
old favourites that would get an audience up on their feet. The
group, all hailing from the DC area, consisted of sisters Jacqui
and Vicki Burton and their longtime friends Jeanette Talley and
Roberta Miller. What the girls wanted more than anything was to
get a recording deal and become stars, but their first break was
a long time coming.
In 1962 they were seen by Clyde Otis, who offered them his
services as their manager and secured a contract for them with
Okeh Records. Before their first visit to a recording studio, in
August 1962, a change of name was required, so the girls became
the Blossoms. The group cut enough tracks for an entire album but
only one single, "I'm In Love", was released. The 45 failed to
make any impression and the girls were released from their
contract.
Despite their immense disappointment, they continued to tread the
boards. When they heard about the formation of the new Shrine
label, they went along to get themselves a piece of the action. By
this time Roberta had retired due to ill health, leaving the
remaining trio to sign with Shrine. A change of name was required
to distinguish them from Darlene Love's West Coast group, so the
girls became the DC Blossoms...
I can feel repetitive stress injury starting to kick in; to read
the rest of the story, see a great picture of the DC Blossoms and
hear two tracks by the group, you'll have to buy CDKEND 190 (see
below). But in the meantime, here's a Discography:
The Blossoms:
"I'm In Love" / "What Makes Love" (Okeh 7162, 1962)
The DC Blossoms:
"I Know About Her" / "Hey Boy" (Shrine 107, 1966)
On CD:
"I Know About Her"
on "Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label" (Kent CDKEND 160)
"Hey Boy" and "This Is Your Last Chance"
on "Shrine: The Rarest Soul Label, Volume 2" (Kent CDKEND 190)
For more information, click here:
http://216.15.202.119/cgi-bin/SearchCatNo.asp?lngID=181052
here:
http://216.15.202.119/MoreInfo/CDKEND160.html
or here:
http://www.acerecords.co.uk/gotrt/oct02/cdkend190.html
MICK PATRICK
(with thanks to Andy Rix)
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 01:20:12 -0000
From: Allan Rinde
Subject: Re: Joey Levine & The Archies
Stuffed Animal wrote:
> Does your wife remember singing background with Ellie Greenwich
> on Archies records? Singer/songwriter Joey Levine has claimed
> that he sang background on some Archies sessions in a group that
> included Ellie Greenwich, Toni Wine and Jamie Carr. Ron Dante has
> denied this, and neither Jeff nor Ellie remember clearly (Jeff
> thinks maybe so, Ellie thinks maybe not). Can she put this
> controversy to rest?
Don: Here's what Toni had to say on this -
"Although I did oodles of sessions with Joey Levine, Ellie Greenwich,
Ronnie Dante and Billy Carr (aka Jamie Carr), all of us as a unit
never sang together as the Archies. If we did sing together - at the
same time on the same session - it would have been strictly as
background vocals, possibly even for a Jeff Barry production, but not
for an Archies session."
Allan Rinde
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Message: 3
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2002 18:04:46 -0800
From: Vincent Degiorgio
Subject: Re: Mina
> Mina has a great website. Better brush up on your Italian:
> http://www.minamazzini.com
It's all about Attila Mina, her unbelievable version of
"Don't You Ever Take Your Love Away" which is the perfect
candle-lit dinner record, and the blistering "Tiger Bay"
arranged by the great Celso Valli. Brilliant and timeless
Vince
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Message: 4
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2002 21:33:03 -0800 (PST)
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Ring a Ding / Trad Dad
Mike Edwards:
> Anyone looking for a synopsis and review of this film
> [It's Trad Dad/Ring a Ding Rhythm] should go to the
> Internet Movie Database, where someone has posted a very
> solid review: http://us.imdb.com/Title?0055026#comment
Or they can consult my and David Ehrenstein's book,
"Rock On Film":
"Shapiro and Douglas play small town British teens
trying to overcome the usual local fogies' resistance
to both pop/rock AND trad jazz. Although several
notches below [Richard] Lester's later 'A Hard Day's
Night', his first film shows lots of little touches
around the edges which finally sprang forth full-blown
a couple of years later in that classic Beatles film
debut. In 'Ring a Ding', the director tried to pump
some visual energy into an otherwise standard British
vaudeville - which called upon the services of both
trad players and rockers, i.e. Shannon, Bonds,
Checker, Vincent."
Bill Reed
http://www.pinkywinters.com
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 03:22:58 -0500
From: Country Paul
Subject: Shangri-La's, Hazlewood, Craig Douglas
John Grecco's Shangri-La's article is absolutely fascinating! What
an amazing story. One wonders if they - and other hitmakers from
independent labels or outside producers - would have had different
later careers on labels with a better re-issue follow-through.
The Lee Hazlewood Ace Records promotional article was also a treat.
The book-length version must be a true treasure. Any chance of
talking someone into posting the Suzi Jane Hokum pinup?
Are there any CD collections of Hazlewood's production work at Jamie
and elsewhere aside from Duane Eddy - like Sanford Clark (particular
the Jamie tracks), Connie Conway, etc.?
Interesting to this Yank (from the northeastern US, so the term fits)
to see a mention of Craig Douglas. I have an early 60s 45 of his on
London, "Love Her While She's Young". Was this a hit? And was he a
major artist or actor in the UK?
"Social notes": Welcome to Allan Rinde - and hopefully to Toni Wine.
It's "first person" authorities like you who make this group rise
above most. I'm enjoying and looking forward to more of your
contributions....Martin Roberts, you're very welcome
....Phil C., be back to you off-list soon.
Country Paul
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 09:29:55 +0000
From: Simon White
Subject: Re: The Rock Flowers
Out of interest, The Rock Flowers "Number Wonderful",
Wheel 0032, (which I foolishly passed on to someone else
in a fit of misplaced something) was later done by Jay
And The Techniques under the title "Number Onederful" and
the UK's own Pickittywitch (the flip of this is a great
Dionne Warwick soundalike). The orginal seems to be by
'Silver Lining' - anyone know who they were?
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 11:29:04 -0000
From: Billy G. Spradlin
Subject: Re: Shangri-Las CDs
The best Shangri-La's compilations I found are RPM's "Myrmidons of
Melodrama", which has all the Red Bird Hits, and Mercury's "Best The
Shangri-Las" which has the 1966-7 sides. Some tracks on Mercury's
compilation sound a little brighter and less noise processed than
RPM's CD.
Stay away from the budget compilations - the ones I have bought (and
sold off) over the years had muddy sound quality or used remakes
(dont know if Mary Wiess was involved in these re-recordings or not?).
I also recommend getting Taragon's "The Very Best Of Red Bird/Blue
Cat Records", which has several Shangri-Las tracks in superb remixed
stereo.
http://www.cdmo.com/cgi-bin/cdmo/83785-10292-
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Message: 8
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 12:04:33 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Re: Girl Group Acetates / Toni Wine
Back in August, Neil Hever wrote:
> Folks, I have three "Girl group" acetates. One has been
> identified (it came with the sheet music) and the other two
> are mysteries! They were at the bottom of a storage closet
> where they have languished for over 35 years. The one
> identified is Jackie DeShannon "Franklin Street". It is
> believed to be her demo with the Wrecking Crew. The other
> two titles are on Dick Charles Recording Service NYC acetates
> marked "Screen Gems". The titles are "He's Gonna Be Somebody"
> and "When This Little Girl Gets Through". They are both up-
> tempo, fully arranged demonstrations with female lead vocals,
> backing chorus and basic instrumentation and solos. HGBS
> sounds like the Cookies and the other track is a little harder
> to place. Any ideas?
Some might recall that I speculated that Neil's acetate of "When
This Little Girl Gets Through" sounded like Toni Wine. Well, we
now have Allan Rinde, the lady's husband, among our membership;
meaning confirmation, or otherwise, is just an email away...
Allan has played the track for Toni and reports:
> That is indeed Toni singing, but it's not her song. She was 15
> at the time and thinks the demo was made for Peggy March. It
> might be a Phil Kaufman song. I'll check with Jack Keller to
> see if he remembers more.
Here are a couple of other questions for Toni, if you'd be so
kind Allan:
What is Toni's real name?
Who sang the original demo of "Groovy Kind Of Love"?
Thanks in advance.
MICK PATRICK
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Message: 9
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 06:43:20 -0800 (PST)
From: Artie Wayne
Subject: Re: Allan Rinde + Toni Wine
Allan.....It's strange for me to welcome you to Spectropop
since you were the one to turn me on to it. I'm glad your
voice has become part of the chorus!!
I've got a question for Toni. I know that she sometimes sang
on 3 or 4 dates a day as a background singer.....were there
some days when she sang on more than one hit record?
regards, Artie Wayne
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Message: 10
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 16:09:35 -0000
From: Allan Rinde
Subject: Where Does A Rock & Roll Singer Go
Hello all,
I've played Artie Wayne's "Where Does A Rock And Roll Singer Go"
to musica (in mid-quality stereo VBR, for the technically minded).
Enjoy!
Allan Rinde
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Message: 11
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 17:16:59 -0000
From: Eddy Smit
Subject: Bobby Russell
Does anybody have any information on Bobby Russell, mainly known as
composer of the Bobby Goldsboro hit "Honey"? A discography mayhaps...
Eddy
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Message: 12
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 09:20:21 -0800 (PST)
From: Steve Harvey
Subject: Yank, Yank, Yankee!
Just a bit of history on us Yankees. The term was originally
invented by the Dutch to refer to English colonists in the
American colonies. The song "Yankee Doodle" (didn't Phil Spector
do a demo for the Founding Fathers way back when?) was popular
during the French and Indian War when the British troops sang it.
Even though it was a spoof on the colonial troops the Yankees
liked the song and adopted it for their own (kinda like the
Tommies adopting "Lili Marlene" even though Hitler wanted it
played to make themhomesick). During WWI Yankees got shortened to
Yanks.
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Message: 13
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 20:59:11 -0000
From: Allan Rinde
Subject: Toni Wine, Chiffons, Ronnie Spector
Artie Wayne wrote:
> I've got a question for Toni. I know that she sometimes sang
> on 3 or 4 dates a day as a background singer.....were there
> some days when she sang on more than one hit record?
Toni really loved this one. She says yes, but can't provide
specific details with any accuracy. It was a long time ago.
I received the following questions from David A Young and
Phil Chapman, and since they have surfaced before, I thought
a post to the group was in order.
1) Is yours the voice trading vocals with Judy Craig on The
Chiffons' "Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me"?
2) The "words" to the background chorus in that song sound like
"Lovely La-De-Day," which is the name of a never-released song
that Ronnie Spector recorded for Apple. Did you write the Ronnie
song too, and, if so, with whom? Were you involved in any of her
Apple sessions?
Toni's answer -
"Irwin Levine and I wrote and produced this song for the Chiffons
and did it very close to my original demo. I also did a rough vocal
for them to learn the song from and Sylvia Peterson sang her part
incredibly close to mine. I love the girls and I love that record!
The background line you are refering to is "Love Me La De Day" which
we did as a hook line for this song. Regarding the Ronnie Spector
song, which was entitled "Love Me La De Day," and has nothing to do
with "Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me", it was written by Irwin,
myself and Phil Spector. I did not participate on any of the Apple
sessions but I always wished, and still do, that Ronnie's recordings
of "Love Me La De Day" and "I Love You Like I Love My Very Life"
could see the legal light of day!"
3) Is there anything in the rumour that the Ronettes are part of the
backing vocals for "Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me"?
The backgrounds on "Love Me Like You're Gonna To Lose Me" were done
by the Chiffons and Toni. The Ronettes were not involved. The only
time Toni and Ronnie sang together was on some (unissued) sides cut
in Memphis by Toni's ex, Chips Moman, during Ronnie's Columbia Records
period. Unfortunately, we do not have copies of this material.
Allan Rinde
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Message: 14
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 23:53:13 -0000
From: Mike Edwards
Subject: re: Yank, Yank, Yankee!
This reminds me of the title of an Irving Berlin's review, "Yip, Yip,
Yaphank (1918), about the army camp that was set up at Yaphank to
help mobilize troops for WW1. Yaphank is about ten miles east of me
here on Long Island. Apparently, Berlin also wrote God Bless America
at the same time but did not include it in the review as the song
content was out of keeping with a comedy review. One song that did
make it was "Mandy", which was revived by Berlin for his 1954 film,
White Christmas. You may recall the big production number in the
film – "Mandy, there's an orchestra handy" etc. Spectrum records in
the UK have on release a CD that combines the soundtracks for Holiday
Inn and White Christmas featuring the aforementioned "Mandy":
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006W2U0/026-4637385-4745245
Priced at 7.99 UK pounds, it appears to be pretty good value and I
thought you'd like to know. I hope this is what they call a "thread".
Mike Edwards
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Message: 15
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 00:10:17 -0000
From: Billy G Spradlin
Subject: Re: Shangri-Las CDs
I was just looking at RPM's website and noticed that the repackaged
"Myrmidons of Melodrama" CD now has stereo remixes of several songs.
Are these the same remixes that were on the Taragon CD or new ones?
BTW I wish someone would dig up all the remaining Shangs multi-tracks
and remix them - It would be a thrill to hear tracks that have a very
brittle sound like "What Is Love" and "Paradise" remixed.
Billy
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Message: 16
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 01:27:01 -0000
From: Jeff Lemlich
Subject: Re: Bobby Russell
Eddy Smit wrote:
> Does anybody have any information on Bobby Russell, mainly known
> as composer of the Bobby Goldsboro hit "Honey"?...
Oh no, not a Bobby Russell question! Someone shut me up before I
get down on my knees and testify to the majesty of Nashville pop!
Young Bobby led one of Nashville's first teen garage bands, recording
for Ted Jarrett & Bill Beasley's Spar label as "Bobby Russell & The
Beagles". He then mounted three heads of pop greatness as the early
60s turned into the mid 60s:
(1) Recording track after track after track for Jarrett &
Beasley's "Hit" label soundalike factory in Nashville... sometimes
recording as the Beagles, sometimes the Jalopy Five, sometimes the
Chellows, sometimes Ed Hardin! And sometimes a Bobby Russell
original would grace a B-side. More on that in a moment.
(2) Songwriting: Scoring three hit records in 1966 with "Sure Gonna
Miss Her", "The Joker Went Wild", and "Popsicle".
(3) "Legitimate" recording sessions: Ronny & The Daytonas with John
Buck Wilkin, songwriting partner Buzzy Cason, and fellow "Hit" label
superstud, Bergen White; The Communication Aggregation ("Freakout
USA") with Cason, to name just a few.
And all the while, the Hit/Spar operation is going strong in
Nashville, luring in unsuspecting record buyers who don't know the
original of "I Will Follow Him" isn't by Connie & Clara! Despite the
seemingly cheap nature of the label, the sessions were lucrative, and
drew some of the most talented people in Nashville. Guys who'd
become big-name producers, such as Russell and White, were joined by
Larry Butler, Bill Pursell, and other heavy hitters, operating out of
Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville -- with Billy Sherill at the
controls! It would not be uncommon for someone who played on an
original recording to also play on the "cheapo" Hit label cover. It
can be argued that if Hit was a "cover version" label, some artists
were covering themselves!!!!
Case in point: Bobby Russell... recording his own "Sure Gonna Miss
Her" for the label in 1965 as the Chellows (one of several Russell
originals that were allowed to grace Hit label B-sides). Later,
when Gary Lewis & The Playboys soared up the charts with the song,
Hit issued "Sure Gonna Miss Her" a second time -- with what was
essentially the original version now masquerading as a cover! (I'm
not even going to speculate as to how the Gentrys' "Keep On Dancing"
wound up on the label!).
In 1967, Bobby Russell and Buzzy Cason started the Elf label, and a
year later Russell scored his first solo hit with "1432 Franklin Pike
Circle Hero". And as his songwriting career REALLY took off --
with "Honey" and "Little Green Apples" -- leave it to Bill Beasley
and Ted Jarrett to feature these songs prominently on Hit label
albums! They knew which side their bread was buttered!
Now move ahead to 1969, and an album by The Now Generation that's
released on Beasley/Jarrett's Spar label. What a mish-mosh of an
album! The liners claim the group members include "Phoebe, Unky,
and Fatty Ann", but 8 of the 12 songs were written by Bobby Russell
-Bergen White, and their voices are all over this thing. And if
you really listen closely -- several of the tracks are recycled 1965
Hit label B-sides! Some of these same tracks appeared on the Chords
"Groovy Is" album (Modern Sound 562), and several other Modern Sound
LPs; these tracks were recycled more than a Charay label B-side!
There he is, bloody Bobby Russell singing these songs, while Phoebe,
Unky, and Fatty Ann mug for the camera. Oh, and it turns out a member
of the Now Generation was some guy named Jimmy Buffett.
Nashville pop -- I love it!
It's pretty well-known that Bobby Russell had another hit ("Saturday
Morning Confusion"), married Vicki Lawrence, wrote "The Night The
Lights Went Out In Georgia", divorced Vicki Lawrence, and died in
1992. But as you can see, that was just a tiny part of his story...
Jeff Lemlich
http://www.limestonerecords.com
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Message: 17
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2002 21:27:24 -0600
From: Dan Hughes
Subject: Re: Bobby Russell
On a personal note--Soon after Bobby Russell died, I met (on the net)
his high school english teacher. She told me that he was quite a
handful in school, and she was shocked that he ever amounted to anything.
---Dan
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Message: 18
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 07:49:50 -0000
From: Mick Patrick
Subject: Toni Wine & Carla Thomas
For Allan & Toni,
Reading Toni's "Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me" and "Love
Me La De Day" stories reminded me of her song "I Loved You
Like I Love My Very Life", famously recorded by Carla Thomas,
Darlene Love, Ronnie Spector and Toni herself (as a duet with
Tony Orlando).
That wasn't the only Wine composition cut by Carla Thomas;
perhaps explained by the fact that Toni's first husband, Chips
Moman, was Carla's producer at the time. I'm thinking of "(I'm
Getting) Closer To You", which Toni wrote with, I think, L.
Russell Brown. It's a very gorgeous track with a particularly
beautiful string arrangement and a very familiar sounding
backing vocalist. Did Toni, perhaps, sing on this track? I
think I know the answer already. :-)
I notice that Carla also recorded some songs written by both
Cynthia Weil and Carole King. Obviously, she or her A & R team
had a taste for later vintage Screen Gems songs. They
certainly suited her style to a T.
Anyway, getting back to "Love Me Like You're Gonna Lose Me":
the Chiffons were a great group and the record is a work of
art.
MICK PATRICK
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